2020-05-05 - Spring and Sprouts - Chris and Noelle … mostly
*****WARNING*****This blog post contains graphic sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.
Chris Peterson looked at the clock on the stove again. It was the seventh time in 5 minutes. He was timing his day to work out just right. He had to run an errand before his date with Noelle. In a small town it was a complicated errand. He needed to buy condoms before his date. They had a plan, a very happy plan, and he just needed to do it. First he had to get to the Love Shack without running into seventeen people...then he had to get home...with his purchase. Maybe he should take a backpack? If he emerged from the shop with a backpack would everyone just think it was full? He checked his hair in the bathroom mirror and gave himself a talking to.
“You’re a grown up. Grown ups have sex. You’re being responsible. Everyone should just pat you on the back and shut the fuck up about it….”
He padded his pockets...wallet and keys..check...front pocket...phone..check. He hoped Noelle wasn’t watching out her window. She knew, but he didn’t need to drag her into it. He could do this. And he was so glad his brother Patrick had switched his shift so he wasn’t home to witness that as well as giving he and Noelle the apartment to themselves overnight later.
Chris descended the stairs. How hard could this be? He made it as far as the laundromat before he ran into someone.
Buni Chuku was coming down the hill from the Center of town and heading home. She had a box under her arm and was smiling. Then she spots ….. “Which one you be?” she demands. “I cain’t tell witout ya uniforms?”
Chris smiled warmly at Buni because how can anyone not. He pointed to the little mole beside his right eyebrow “I’m Chris.” He explained and then pointed to an empty spot under his left eye “Pat’s got one on the other side down here…..I don’t expect people to remember.” He smiles again. “How are you Buni?”
Buni snorts. “Dat too small!” she proclaims. “But I doin good. Back in bidness. Ya think eberbody forget we ain’t had no real coffee fo years, dey come in demanding mo like it a drug.” she snorts. “I don do drugs.” she assures him. “Coffee jest legal iz all.” she chuckles. “Where you headin on dis lovely ebenin?” she asks. Good ol small town chit-chatter.
Chris froze. It was a litmus test. Had his little pep talk taken? He didn’t know Buni THAT well after all. “Well I like your coffee Buni...and I’m just running some errands. But it was nice to bump into you.” It dawns on him that she might actually see where he ends up when they part and he bites his lip.
Buni nods. “Don rush none.” she tells him. “It a beautiful day so ya take ya time … slow and easy.” she nods. “But imma run, cause dit blackberry flavorin ain’t gonna put issef in a drink!” and she's off jaywalking and waving over her shoulder. “Take care Missa Chris!”
Chris exhales with his entire being and waves back “See ya Buni.” He walks a little slow and waits until she’s gone into the Perkatory and then quickly ducks into the Love Shack. One point Chris. Zero points town lurkers.
Seamus Reinhardt stood at the counter, considering his options. “OK, Megan … seriously … The banana flavor tastes like latex and the cheery like cough medicine.” he blows out a breath. “I can’t give a review like that, so I won’t give one at all. But the blackberry is INCREDIBLE, I tell you!” he is nodding his head, happily.
Megan is taking in everything Seamus says “I know right…..I’m going to double our stock on that and put the other two on sale...I mean people can just use them as non edible…..Oh hey…” She waves “I’m sorry I can’t see the moles from here….Are you Chris or Pat?”
Chris sighs and walks all the way in, pointing beside his eyebrow “Hi Megan. Hi Seamus.” Chris one. Lurkers 2. He casually tries to look like he’s just browsing for a moment as Megan turns back to Seamus.
“I feel so rude when I can’t tell.” She whispers “Anyhow blackberry...listen I’ll knock off 15 percent since you braved them all Shay. You are so good with the reviews….”
Seamus watches Chris and leans into Megan a bit. “They’re probably used to it. Hell, I cut Owen’s hair .. long story … and I’ve been stopped twice today by people congratulating me on impending parenthood. As if!” he scoffs and cant’s his head “That’s fair. I’ll take two then.” he turns back to Chris. “Tonight’s the night!” he announces to the store at large … which is only he, Megan and Chris.
Chris was gingerly deciding between two fairly jumbo packages of standard condoms on the other side of a display but could see over the top of it and hear most of what they were saying. He smirked a bit at the Reinhardt brothers' stuff and then almost dropped his boxes as Shay called him out on his purpose. Litmus test again. Well he was in the shop, and clearly the force was strong with Seamus. And he suspected he just knew. Peeking over he just said “Yep.”
Megan put two bottles down in front of Seamus and then looked delighted at Chris “Special night? Need something special?”
Chris retreated “Oh...I uh….I’m good here...these are good….”
Seamus has turned around and is looking at Chris full on now. Looking at the boxes, he straightens and shakes his head. “No no …” he protests, moving around Chris and into the aisle he was just in. “Those are at best average.” He scans the shelves. “OK … those say ‘ribbed for her pleasure’ but trust me .. she doesn’t need ribs .. she needs you.” and he plucks out 2 fairly jumbo packages of an entirely different brand than Chris had chosen. “These are what you want.” he brings them over to Chris. “Fit well, good quality materials and they won’t break just putting them on. You can’t go wrong with them.”
Chris looks a little overwhelmed but nonetheless appreciatively at Seamus. “Oh….ok….thanks man.” He puts the other two back and grabs two of the ones recommended. He doesn’t comment on what he said about the ribbed condoms but the words ‘she just needs you’ go right through him. Where did this sage young sexpert come from anyway? He was never this smooth at that age. Ah the Reinhardts. He makes his way towards the counter but waits and Seamus still has things waiting for him there. With a look of dawning he reads the back of one of the boxes carefully.
Megan gushes at Seamus “Fuuuuckk...when can I hire you already?” She starts ringing in his lubes. “Seriously Shay….”
Seamus smiles and noda tt Chris. “No problem man. She’s a friend of mine … and not in that way, either.” He turns to Megan and hands over his card. “May 22, 2021 2:34 a.m.” he tells her. “Unless you’d like to get parental consent, in which case it would be …” he seems to consider. “May 22, 2021 2:34 a.m.” and then he strokes his chin. “But … I think my NOT being the son who gave them a grandkid before they were ready just might get me that consent. You got a form or something? I’ll work on em .. hard to tell which to approach ….”
Megan finishes up his transaction, bags his items and hands them over “Just give me a resume for posterity….and I’ll tell Kitty. She’ll love it.” She looks towards Chris reading the box “Did you have a question?”
Chris listens in and then looks up “Yeah are these animal free? We’re vegan and vegetarian….so….”
Megan takes the box “Let me look them up. I think so…” She taps at her computer screen.
Seamus takes his bag and heads for the door, then stops. “No animal skin, no animal testing .. nothing like that. 100% vegan approved.” he arches his brows at Chris. “I wouldn't do that to her, man.” and he stands as if waiting.
Megan points at Seamus “See this is why he needs to work here...he already knows.” She rings him up quickly since it seems he and Shay may be walking together.
Chris pays and thanks Megan and then heads to the door “Thanks Shay. You’re very helpful.”
Seamus waves his goodbye to Megan and takes his bag, holding the door open for Chris. The street is having a lull, so he turns to the older man. “Listen. I just wanted to say I’m happy for you and Noelle. She’s really special and it’s about time she had someone for her, ya know?” he holds up his hands. “And no, she’s never been one of my conquests. She’s a friend. Period.” If Chris doesn't reply or continue the discussion, Shay will head towards home.
Chris looks pleasantly surprised. He didn’t really know Seamus that well aside from seeing him as a force to be reckoned with against any hockey team he ever coached. It turned out, he was a cool guy. “I wasn’t assuming….and yeah it is about time. I’m happy too. You have a great night.”
Seamus snorts. “Then you’d be the first.” he scoffs. He had his own issues with having a sluts reputation around town. He heads in the direction of home, waving a goodbye over his shoulder.
Chris waved and then made a beeline for home. He dropped off his own box of condoms to his bedside table. He did a last straighten up check of the apartment. He had already tidied and cleaned but he gave it one last check. Chris and Pat weren’t super messy and they didn’t have tons of stuff to clutter it up so that helped. Satisfied, he gave his teeth an extra freshen up brush, freshed his deodorant and finger styled his hair one last time. He blew a breath out at himself in the mirror and said to his reflection “You got this..” Then he grabbed the other box of condoms and headed across the street. In no time he was in front of Noelle’s door. He knocked and waited.
Noelle had spent the day resting after taking Blaze to school. She had hyped the day up for him and her son was super excited that he would get to spend the night at his half sisters apartment. Daisy would pick them up from school and then make a special treat of taking them to the Burger/Fish shack. Noelle had agreed to that because the Burger/Fish shack was out of the line of sight of her apartment, so Blaze wouldn’t see her or Chris and become distracted. The only thing Noelle had to drill into Daisy’s head was to remember that Blaze should only have the french fries which she knew were fried in vegetable oil. So, after trying for a nap and some relaxation, she eventually gave up and decided to dress for her date. Limits on clothes frustrated her a bit, but in the end, she decided on her second best dress. A sundress that was really better suited for the summer, but it was her second best dress. Under it she had only a simple pair of bikini panties and over it she wore a sweater. Looking in the mirror, she almost stripped the clothes off for something else. Anything else. “I look like a grandmother.” she chided herself. She wondered if she could quickly run to The SHops and grab a ‘ne’ second hand dress, but then a knock sounded. That was Chris. On time, no less .. maybe a minute or two early. Too late to change anything. So a blue sundress and matching sweater had ot be it. She reached for the door knob a couple of times, as if she feared it was hot, but finally opened the door and stared. He looked incredible and she decided she looked plain and simple and her insecurities jumped on her back. She worked her mouth a couple of times before she came out with .. “Hi … you came.” Real smooth, Noelle.
Chris grinned stupidly at her and then felt himself blush “Yep…..” He took in all of her and then said “You look beautiful.” He was holding something behind his back but stepped towards her leaning down “Can I kiss you?” The question came out in a whisper.
Noelle blushed. “I don’t but thank you.” she demures, still hating her simple used wardrobe. Then he asks for a kiss and she steps into ballet flats, then out the door closing it behind her. “Yes….” she pauses. “I .. you… you don't have to ask, you know. I want to kiss you. I really do…” and she steps closer to him, looking up at him .. into his face, getting lost in his blue eyes.
Chris murmured “Don’t lock it yet.” and then impulsively but gently pressed her against the door kissing her with an intensity he’d been holding onto all day. In the hand that had been held behind his back he pressed something into the door that sounded like a cardboard box.
Noelle got into the kiss and truly enjoyed it. But she also heard her door creak open a little and her curiosity got the better of her. “What’s that?” he’d placed a box on the small square dresser she had by the door for her keys and mail .. in front of which were shoes.
Chris pulled back and looked a bit sheepish “It probably would have been more romantic to just buy you flowers...but we’re both pretty practical so this is your half of my preparation shopping.” He teased. It was of course a box of condoms. “Maybe put them out of sight when Blaze gets back. Hate to have them all blown up like balloons…” he joked.
Noelle smiled at him as if he’d just given her diamonds, not flowers. I love them.” she announced. “Um .. yea .. Blaze .. hold on.” and slipping out of her flats and leaving them in between his feet, she scampers into the apartment, here Chris may hear a little rattling, and then more scampering and she is back. As she slips back into her shoes, she giggles. “I put them in MY toybox.” she tells him and then looks up at him. She swallows. “Thanks and .. I love them. Love you.” and finally she closes the door and locks it behind her.
Chris grins and then looks confused at the word toybox. His mind starts buzzing but he’s afraid if the answer to the question is what he thinks it might be they’ll never go out and he knows she wants and needs a night out. He clears his throat and takes her hand “I love you more…” He says sweetly “Shall we?” And he starts moving towards the stairs.
Noelle smiles and almost giggles. “I guess we’ll have to clear that up somehow.” it would be the nicest fight she ever had with a male, she’s convinced. Holding his hand, she nods. “Yes … let’s go.” she prepares to go out and be seen with him. Maybe he'd even keep holding her hand for all to see.
Chris had no plans to let go of her hand and settled into an easy walking rhythm with her where their hands swung comfortably together. As they rounded the corner he saw the love shop ahead and had to laugh “So I uh bought condoms with Seamus Reinhardt today…..didn’t expect that…not planned….” He figured Noelle would find that funny.
Noelle does laugh. “I’m told Seamus knows about stuff like that.” she tells him, walking along happily. “And more, apparently. Daisy calls him a man-ho, and I guess it’s sort of true, but Seamus doesn’t care about that, it seems. He says he likes it, so fuck what people think.” she sounds amazed. “But he said it sucks I have the label because it's not true.” she shrugs and looks up at him, as they walk. “I don’t care so much for me. And now I’m with you … I just don’t want it to go bad for you, Chris…”
Chris nods along and then sort of cringes and laughs. His face turns more serious as she talks about what people think and labels. He thinks about Mrs. Norris from the other day and stops them in place, never wanting Noelle to feel anything less than happy. “Noelle it was bad for me when I didn’t think you’d ever look at me the way you do right now. This…” He leans in and kisses her gently “Is the best I’ve ever felt in my whole life...right here….with you.” A middle aged woman passed right by them on the street and he didn’t break form. He was making it pretty clear that he didn’t care who was watching.
Noelle smiles and the words damn near melt her heart. And kissing her in front of that woman .. she didn’t even notice if her expression changed. They pass Earthcakes and Noelle turns them between that building and the building the radio station is in. They can cut across Central Park and behind the cop shop to Central street and up to Sprouts. “Well I can’t seem to stop looking at you like this.” she admits, thrilled that he feels that way. And she is looking a thim with such intense love that she doesn’t notice the door open until she is nearly knocked down.
Vincent D’Antoni checks his step as he heads out of the door, nearly running Noelle down. He focuses on her. “Oh Jesus Noelle. I’m sorry.” he looks and sees her hand securely in another, and follows the arm to the shoulder and. “Oh, hi Officer Peterson.” he doesn't seem surprised to see them together. He only smiles. “Hey. Noelle. I wanted to thank you for that recipe. I love all kinds of lasagna but never tried spinach before. But I’m going to need your help to get Zabats to put it on the menu … not now .. when you come in next.” he smiles at them both and closes his door, locking it behind himself.
Chris wiggles his eyebrows at Noelle and then stops short when Vincent flies into her, almost putting an arm between them protectively as an instinct but relaxing when it’s not a harmful thing. Chris looks awkward and then flattered “Oh hey it’s Chris. I’m not working...thanks for knowing which one I am.” he jokes. “Mmm spinach lasagna…” He smiles looking between them. “You work here now Vincent?”
Vincent chuckles. “OK .. Chris.” he acquiesced. “And when I was a kid, I learned to be observant.” he says, casually. “If I didn’t notice things sometimes it meant I bounced off the walls.” he looks at his building. “No, sir .. I mean Chris. Well if you mean here…” he motions to the door he just came out of. “I live here .. I work at Zabats now as a junior chef. Only until the ferry starts up again, then I am hoping Noelle here will take over for me when I go work at 13 while I go to school.” he looks at her. “Christophoros can be a little old fashioned, but I’m working on him. Now I gotta go, or I’m gonna be late. You two take care.” he gets ready to go, pointing himself in the direction of Zabats across the park.
Chris nods, taking in all of it “Well take care then.” He watches him go in his direction “So you are clearly much more than just a delivery person. Tell me about the cooking thing Noelle?”
Noelle watches Vincent go and begins walking again. “Well … the delivery thing is kind of new .. after we got reconnected. I also wait tables at Zabats. He gave me a chance when I was still pregnant with Blaze. I want to be a chef, but he’s kinda old world. But Vincent and I are working on him. He’s put some vegan friendly things on the menu. Before his idea of vegan friendly was keeping the feta cheese out of the salad.” she shrugs. “Maybe someday i’ll go to cooking school. I could make more money for me and Blaze then.” She is planning ahead.
Chris squeezes her hand and looks impressed “Money’s one part of it. I think it’s important to do something you love for work...and hopefully you can topple that patriarchy in the kitchen and stick it to a few carnivores…” He says with a grin. “You should definitely apply to cooking school.” The restaurant is ahead and Chris sighs happily “Speaking of vegan dishes….”
Noelle sort of shrugs. “Well now we're back in the world, money is a lot of it.” she sighs. “I love it .. and it's funny that so many professional chefs are men but women cook at home.” she rolls her eyes. “And I will apply … in a couple of years. Once Blaze is in school full time. I can go to school when he does and then do the delivery thing, so he’s not alone ALL the time. Daisy will watch him if she can. Or something. I’ll figure it out then. But when he’s older .. unless I can find a way to learn cooking online somehow.” She sees Sprouts and does a little skip. Her first date was going along great so far.
Chris looks pensive for a moment and then joins her joy, opening the door for her and letting her go first if she’s so inclined “I already know what I want…” He looks through and smiles at Rain if she’s looking his way.
Rain March looks up from a form to see two of her favorite customers come in. “Chris! Noelle!” She comes around the counter to greet them, but things have changed. She stops before she gets too close and beams at them. “How is the baby, Noelle?” No more hugging and she long ago got to know both of their auras. Looking between them she arches her brows. “Are you two … just .. here at the same time .. or … here .. together?” she looks almost eager for it to be the latter.”
Noelle smiles, noting this new ‘normal’ and just shyly says “Blaze is fine ….” she doesn't answer about them being together, just shyly looks at Chris.
Chris adores Rain and her food and just lifts up Noelle’s hand and kisses it “Together.” He proclaims and then looks at Noelle with absolute devotion “First date though.” It sounds funny to say since they’ve known each other so long and the feelings are so deep already. He looks back at Rain, understanding her intuition about auras.
Rain’s smile would light the town. She steps back and looks at them, then claps her hands. Interlocking her fingers, she looks up at the ceiling and shakes her hands towards the sky. “Oh gods, you are making up for SO much tonight!” she exclaims and then looks at them both. “Well, that is the best news I’ve heard since … oh ... before we returned to this world. And it gets you 25 percent off whatever you want.” she all but skips behind the counter. Her clearly homemade clothes match the wrap around her head. “So what can I get you?”
Noelle watches what looks almost like a prayer, even though everyone knows Rain is not Christian. But the words warm her ..and the discount even more. “Well, I’d like The Harvest Salad and a large power boost, please.” she nods at Chris. “And I’m paying for him, too.” she proclaims. They hadn’t exactly discussed it, but she wanted to pay for the dinner. Especially now he’d paid for the condoms.
Chris laughs at Rain “Glad we can help. Thanks for the discount offer...and actually…..my workmates are treating so put your cards away Noelle...and I’d rather pay full since it’s a gift and I know business has been a struggle with the pandemic.” He awkwardly explains to them both “the police station apparently took bets on how long it would take us to get together….and then they donated it to our date…..be flattered or just feel sorry for me that some of those officers have such little faith in my charm.” he jokes. “I’ll have the black bean taco with avocado please...and the Autumn Zest”
Rain arches her brows as she listens. “Alright I will charge you full …. This time. But you’ll get that discount.” she sighs. “LIFE has been difficult with this pandemic. But I didn’t open Sprouts to make money. I made it to make people healthy. And now that we’re back in the world.” she sighs and chuckles. “They go right back to meat. Ah well. They did good for a few years, anyway.” she outright laughs at the bet. “That is so sweet of them. See … he gods know what they’re doing.” and she nods at Chris’s order. “I’ll have that out in a few minutes.” and she heads into the back.
Noelle looks like she might protest but when he explains why he wants to pay .. and its not him paying. “Well … okay ..” she agrees. “But NEXT time I pay .. and then you pay and we go back and forth. Deal?” she blushes a bit at the idea of the bet but when Rain speaks she just nods. “That’s people for you. But just think. Blaze has never had meat, so … next generation?” she offers. When Rain goes back she looks at Chris and hugs his arm. “This is great!”
Chris concedes to Rain with a nod and then to Noelle’s request about payment arrangements “Deal.” He didn’t have very expensive tastes and it sounded like they both cooked so he suspected it would not be a problem either way. “I admire the way you raise Blaze.” he says honestly. He leans into her hugging his arm and kisses the top of her head “I agree. It’s perfect.”
Noelle smiles at the deal .. it means more dates. She looks up at him. “You do? Thank you.” she replies when he mentions how she raises Blaze. “I’m not a political vegan, you know.” she suddenly tells him. “I mean I care about animals, but I became vegan because my mother said it was the only way to stay skinny. So she put us on the diet.” she rolls her eyes. “Then when she left I just … didn’t stop it. I haven't had meat since I was eight.” she smiles about their perfect date. “Have you always been vegetarian?”
Chris listens and the frowns a bit about her mother putting her on a diet as a child “I don’t think children should be on diets or shamed about their bodies...no one should…..but I know it happens. My parents have kind of ebbed and flowed with vegetarianism. They try to eat organic, they garden so it ends up being pretty vegetarian but I think they also like meat, and my Dad and my brother especially. So my mom tries to do only ethical meat…..my sister Avery always hated meat and I went full vegetarian in high school finally. It just felt right. I try not to be peachy….but you know…” he laughs.
Noelle listens to him, then tugs him into a corner table where they can see and be seen. “My mother …. Well you saw her. Pretty but my father … she wasn’t pretty enough. I got caught in it. But you’re doing good. What about Patrick?” she asks. “Is it Patrick or Pat?”
Chris happily sits at the corner table and takes her hand again on top of the table. “I’m sorry about your father….Noelle you’re so beautiful I can barely think….inside and out.” He smirks “Pat prefers Patrick but I push my luck. We’re opposites like that because I prefer Chris to Christopher. Fun fact...my middle name is Patrick and his is Christopher. I don’t think they knew they were having twins until way late in the game…..”
Noelle shrugs about her father. “He’s .. awful. But he’s not in my life, or Blaze’s.” and then she blushes crimson. “Chris….” she breathes, just loving the compliments, even if only half believing them. She smiles about the names. “That's interesting. I guess that's why you don’t have those rhyming twin names.” she giggles. “I have to admit I am glad I don’t have twins. I could never have handled it alone.”
Rain comes out with their food, setting each dish in front of the right person, followed by their drinks and of course silverware and the cloth napkins. “Enjoy you two.”
When she breathes his name out he kisses her hand again. Noelle made him just continually melt. “No twins is hell...my mom tells us all the time….” He laughs “Until we got old enough to amuse one another...and then she said we lived in our own world...which is true.” He looks up at Rain with gratitude “Thank you so much.” He only lets go of Noelle’s hand now that they have food in front of them.
Noelle smiles. “Thank you.” she watches Rain depart and takes her hand back once Chris lets it go. She partly wants to learn to eat with one hand, but she can’t and she knows it. Instead she starts in on her meal. She really enjoys the food here and it shows.
Chris takes a bite of his taco and puts a hand on his heart as he chews. After he swallows he says “Holy shit have you tried these?” He holds it out offering a bite if she’s inclined “My favourite tacos…”
Noelle chews and swallows and nods. “They’re fantastic.” but she leans forward to take the proffered bite anyway. “Want some of mine? I make the walnut burger at home. Rain gave me the recipe so I could make them for Blaze.” she sighs in bliss. “You know Rain’s was the least changed menu in the fog?” because Rain needed no meat.
Chris nods and then leans in for a bite of hers too “Mmmmm…” he almost groans and then chews and swallows “That’s delicious. And I believe it.” He dives back into his own taco again looking happily fed.
Noelle enjoys her meal, looking over her plate at Chris. Then she realizes that she is more than halfway done before Chris is. She covers her mouth and swallows. “I’m eating too fast. Like a mom … in case I have to get up or move or something ..” she sighs a bit. “I’m sorry.”
Chris shrugs and then does the generic European mama impression “Eata eata…” He fans his hand at her food. It’s vaguely Italian even though there’s none of that in his background at all and he’s just being silly “Hey as long as your’re enjoying it. I guess the mom habits are pretty hard wired.” He muses.
Noelle giggles and nods. “I AM enjoying it. The food and the company.” she looks over the table at him. “I guess we should both be happy I didn’t put you in the seat and cut any food for you?” she smiles and glances out of the window. People are going by, but none seem to be too interested in them. She didn’t know what she expected. Pitchforks and torches? Her eyes fall on the white house on the corner. Mrs. Norrris’s house, but she looks back at Chris. “Thank you for this. Again.”
Chris laughs at the idea of her mothering him “Well maybe when my dinner’s not tacos…” He takes a bite of his last one and smiles at her while he chews. He follows her gaze to Mrs. Norris’s house and does an involuntary quiet shudder. He was working hard to put the discovery of Jack Rose being back on the island out of his head and he wasn’t going to let it overshadow their date. He would tell Noelle of course. But tomorrow. Let her have tonight unspoiled. He pushed it back into the dark hole it festered in as soon as Noelle talked and thanked him ”No...thank YOU.”
Noelle tries not to eat so fast. She knows there is no rush. “OK, then no cutting your taco. I haven’t wiped your mouth, either so … still doing good over here.” she laughs. Biting her lip she then asks. “So … what’s your birthday? I want to know .. everything … I know I can’t learn it all tonight but … you know…”
Chris is about halfway through his last taco but stops to take a long sip of his drink and jokingly offers her his napkin and then sets it back down “Uh ... November 13th...when’s yours? Everything huh…..I love animals...especially dogs. I’m told I sometimes snore but I think it’s mostly when I have a cold.” He holds up a foot “Size 12…” He jokes just spouting off random facts.
Noelle works on the last bites of her salad. “Um … yea ..” she places a hand to her chest. “December 24th. Dad had a thing I guess. My full name is Noelle Holly Snow….” she shrugs. “Oh, I Love dogs. I thought about getting one for Blaze but … then I’d basically have another kid. Maybe someday. And Blaze snores, too .. when he’s sick. Nothing obnoxious .. I think it’s cute.” she lifts her foot. “Six…”
Chris looks suddenly delighted “Noelle Holly Snow and you were born on Christmas eve?! OK fair warning...my parents are going to either want to just adopt you or demand that I instantly marry you. They love Christmas. We’re a family of atheists to be clear but they love the movies and the baking and they decorate about 3 trees and the whole house is like ridiculousness…..oh and the music…” He laughs “ Don’t tell them your full name unless you’re really committing…” he jokes. He pushes his empty plate away a bit and sips at the last half of his drink now.
Noelle stares at him across the table for a long time. He might think he’s overstepped, but she takes a shuddering breath and tries to be casual. “Well, considering I’ve been in love with you for a few years now .... how could I object if that’s what they want .. and you…” she knows they won’t run over to the Town Hall … but someday … who knows .. she might have the whole package. Husband, children, love. “I like decorating for Blaze.” she bites her lip and backtracks a little. “Well … you know if I marry you, my name would be Noelle Holly Peterson … so that might ruin it for everyone involved.”
Chris looks a bit worried at the pause. He had said the M word and talked about meeting parents. Shit. Then he looks at her like he’s melting again and just sighs “I don’t think anything in that idea would ruin anything for me…..but I’ve never assumed a woman would take my surname so that part’s optional.” He realizes he’s now getting possibly a bit too into it for a first date. He loves the idea but baby steps. And he has another idea. “Noelle….I want you...and us to really have a proper date. I don’t want you to think I just want to take you home.” He reaches and squeezes her hand reassuringly “I mean don’t get me wrong I want that too….a lot….but what about popping over to the Blue Door for a drink and a maybe a few dances? Not that you have to drink if you don’t…..” He waits for her reply.
Noelle nods. “We’ll worry about it when the time comes….” she says, because she can see it. As he goes on, she cants her head and looks at him, curiously. “Well, I was thinking about that…. And … I don’t think this can be a proper date, no matter what we do.” She squeezes his hand back. “I mean .. we’ve been in love for years and just … I was stupid. It’s my fault. But first dates are getting to know you time, right?. And we’re doing that, but … I think we took the steps in the wrong order … not that I mind.” she smiles at him, softly. “And … the Blue Door sounds nice, but I have to warn you … I don’t drink .. not really .. and … I don’t know how to dance … well … Blaze thinks I do, but I don’t think you standing on my feet while I move around will work out too well…” she giggles and then looks directly into his eyes. “As far as taking me home with you …. I really want that, too …”
Chris bites his lip and looks down at her feet and then his “Size 12 on size 6 might be a little painful for you...and I’m a bit bigger than Blaze to boot. I’m not an amazing dancer but it’s good fun. Didn’t you do school dances? You were in that group of girls with Daisy?...I would have thought you went to the dances with your friends...at least early on…” He knew once she was pregnant or even the whole Joey thing might kill all the fun of her youth. “Why don’t we try it? If you hate it we can leave it. I’m just trying to give you some variety...and maybe take the pressure off feeling like I better be really good in bed.” He half jokes.
Noelle winces, just imagining his feet on hers. “Yea .. lets .. not.” she shrugs. “In Calgary, I did. Here, it was mostly the Winter Festival before the Earthquake and … well my father never let me. And then Blaze came along and so nothing really until last Winter Festival. He loves the decorations and he’s bigger now so we went for a bit and it was so much fun… Anyway … nope … But yea … lets try it.” she agrees. And she bites her lip. “I’ve only been with one other person so … if you can make it last more than five minutes you’ll be the best lover I ever had.” she winks. “I’m easily impressed in advance.”
Chris listens and nods along and then does an exaggerated wipe of his brow in relief “6 minutes...here I come…” He jokes and then waves at Rain with a cheeky little “Cheque please.”
Rain catches the movement and comes immediately, using her hand held hoziewhatsit to ring up the order. Being at the table, she is closer to them than before. She places the reader back in her pocket and reaches out to squeeze both of their shoulders. “You two have a fantastic night.” she orders and heads back to her counter.
Noelle giggles at his estimation of the time and smiles at rain. “You too, Rain.” and when she’s gone, she takes a big gulp of her drink. “Now .. dancing … and if we don’t wind up in the clinic … home for our 6 minutes of wild, raucous circus sex?” she smirks, revealing a sense of humor Chris probably hadn’t seen … no one has really seen. This is Noelle as Noelle knows her, and even she is learning.
Chris taps to pay and then grins up at Rain “You too. Thanks. It was all delicious as always.” He looks back at Noelle as Rain walks away. He snickers at her joke “You’re getting funnier by the minute Noelle. I love this side of you...all sides but this one’s fun.” He stands up and holds out a hand to her “Shall we cut a rug before we have to unpack the trapeze?”
Noelle giggles. “I love this side too .. I don’t get to show it off much.” she reaches for his hand and stands. “Yes, please.” she replies, eagerly. “And I hope you have a ceiling fan .. just .. saying is all….” and she is ready to head for the Blue Door.
Chris is still laughing as they walk down the sidewalks hand in hand. As they get to the door or the blue door the bouncer waits for their ID and Chris pays the cover for both of them and holds his up casually. The bouncer reacts to his name “Officer Peterson…..”
Chris holds up a hand “Just here to have a drink and a dance….I’m not searching the place….” He jokes and then looks at Noelle “Occupational hazard…”
Noelle watches the exchange and giggles a bit. “Makes sense…” she looks around the place, feeling a little nervous, but she feels safer with Chris around. The bar is all the way across the building, with the dance floor between them and it. At the opposite wall is the DJ’s setup and she can see the DJ … her neighbor Quentin Tyrell doing his job and dancing in place as he looks at albums. “So .. drink first, or dancing?” she asks, then feels she has to nearly yell the question again, the music is so loud.
Chris grins at Quentin as he’s his neighbour too and running club buddy. He leans down to hear Noelle and speaks into her ear so she can hear him “I usually get a drink first but will you still kiss me if I have beer breath? Because I could do something fruity…” He doesn’t want to do anything to mess up her enjoyment of the night or his chances to enjoy it fully with her.
Noelle hears the question and turns her head closer to his ear. “Doesn’t matter. Neither will make me NOT want to kiss you.” and she heads over to the bar, also seeing the Blue Door’s … specialty menu .. drinks and snacks with names that are very suggestive.
Chris walks up to the bar looking relieved. He loved beer. He loved Noelle more of course but he was happy his beer wouldn’t interfere with their kissing. “Hey Remy I’ll have a Golden IPA when you get a sec….and Noelle’s is on me too…” He gestures at the bartender “This is Remy...this is Noelle.”
Remy is a small man who looks in his 20s but seems to have an early balding situation going on. He’s got sort of blonde to strawberry blond hair and a bit of a pinched face. He waves at Noelle “Hello….what’ll ya have?” He’s already pouring the IPA but listening for hers.
Noelle gets a bit of that ‘deer in the headlights’ look about her. “I ….” she looks at the glass the beer is being poured into. “I ….” She looks at the special menu and bites her lip. “Um … something … “ she blows out a breath. “Water, I think.” she finally orders. “I .. don't want to wind up drunk.” There are several reasons for that decision.
Chris nods, respecting her choice. She did say she didn’t really drink after all.
Remy hands Chris his pint and then takes a glass, looking thoughtfully at Noelle “We could make it interesting. Sparkling water, bit of lemon...or lime?” He tilts the glass back and forth being an understanding and accommodating barkeep.
Chris sips at his beer lightly, waiting to pay after Noelle has chosen.
Noelle’s face brightens. “Yes .. please. Lime?” she asks it in a shy ay, as if lime might be too much of a bother.
Remy pours a tap water and adds lime and ice and passes it over. When Chris offers his card to pay he says “Just the IPA..” and gives a little eyebrow wiggle and a grin to him like he’s happy his regular patron friend has a date “Have fun kids…” He jokes and finishes the transaction.
Chris chuckles a bit at Remy and then turns and gestures at the tables for them to sit with their drinks for a minute before they brave the dance floor. He points toa corner table, remembering she liked the corner one at sprouts with a little look of question.
Noelle nods at the idea of a corner table. They sit and she watches the dancers, sipping her drink. But after a minute, she leans into Chris, affectionately, unaware that she’s even doing it.
Chris snuggles right back into her and puts his arm around her, kissing her cheek. It feels new and old at the same time. He chugs back his IPa until it’s about halfway down and then gives Noelle a squeeze “Ok, should we do this?” He head juts to the dance floor and then as if summoning liquid courage downs the rest of his beer.
Noelle finds she likes the water and makes quick work of it. She takes in a deep breath. “Yes …. Let’s do it.” and she nods, as if they are going into a war zone.
Chris mocks up a little series of stretches to be funny and then reaches for Noelle’s hand to pull her with him to the dance floor. If she follows he will pull them right into the middle and gently let go of her hand as he starts to dance close enough to her that they’re paired but they can both move. Chris is actually not a bad dancer, not the best but he can hold his own and seems to enjoy it, hips groove, hands alternate side to side with the upper body and he loosens his neck letting his head join the flow.
Noelle follows and for a second only watches Chris move. She tries to match his movements, and isn’t terrible, but its clear .. she can’t dance.
Chris doesn’t care how Noelle dances. He’s just happy to be out with her. He catches a looks from Quentin and starts to laugh, making Noelle aware of Quentin's reaction to them.
Quentin’s mouth is open in a huge muppet like grin as he points between them. Then he gets a devilish look in his eye and comes on the mic “Alright my beautiful friends, we’re going to slow things right down and get our sway on. Let’s see here…..mmmm and oldie but a goodie...a little R&B …..this one goes out to my neighbours out there….Noelle and Chris…” He puts on Always and Forever by a band called Heatwave.
Chris laughs and puts a hand on his heart looking at Quentin and mouths thank you as the song starts up. He doesn’t know it, but he doesn’t care. He just reaches for Noelle, pulling her into his arms and starting to sway side to side, slowly turning.
Noelle sees Quentin’s look and giggles, but then Quentin opens his mouth, puts on a song and dedicates it to THEM? She is almost numb when Chris takes her in his arms, but she sways .. slow dancing is so much easier to her. As the song goes on, she listens and looks up at Chris, tears glistening in her eyes. “Yes .. please…” she almost whispers. Chris may have to read her lips, but the way she moves closer to him may also tell her that the lyrics are speaking to her.
Chris can’t quite read her lips but he sees the look on her face and the lyrics sing right into his heart. As she moves closer he wraps his arms tighter and then while they still move, dancing, he leans down and kisses ,for all to see, with a gentle passion.
Noelle enjoys the kiss, still moving with him. This evening has been magical for her and it shows in her face. How could she have treated Chris the way she had … feeling for him how she did .. pushing him away because she was afraid? A tear falls as they kiss and she can taste its salt when he reaches the joined lips. She is his … he can have her .. right here on the dance floor if that’s what he wants.
Chris tastes her tear and kisses her a bit harder for a second and then kisses up her cheek to the source of it before shifting his head beside hers and leaning into her ear so she can hear him “Noelle I love you so much.” His eyes are watering too but he’s blinking as he buries his face in her hair, just hugging her tightly now as they continue to sway and turn.
Noelle hears his words and moves her lips so he can hear her as the song ends. “I love you too.” she pauses. “Take me home with you, Chris. Please?”
Chris steps back from her, his pupils dilated and a huge grin on his face as he nods at her, tugging her by the hand off the dance floor. He gives Quentin a little wave and cracks up as Quentin is giving them a double thumbs up as they go. He sees Remy watching from behind the bar with his nod of approval. God people were so up in each other’s business in this town but ti came from a good place. Chris will lead them out into the colling evening air, walking hand in hand in the setting sun if she’s going along with it all.
Noelle goes out with him, not really seeing the looks of Chris’s friends as they do. But outside she stops and looks west towards the ferry landing. There is no Ferry to block the view as they approach Water Street. “God, that is so beautiful…” she breathes at the sunset.
Chris stops with her and then steps behind her and wraps his arms around her waist, leaning on her head a bit and watching it with her “Yep….just like everything about this night.” He holds her tightly and basks in the glow.
Noelle nods her agreement and then begins to move towards Chris’s apartment building. Here’s is dark, she can see, but can’t see Daisy’s place from the streets, as it's in the back of the building. She hopes her son is having the time of his little life … she knows she is.
Chris gets to the door with Noelle and fumbles his keys nervously and drops them “Totally meant to do that…” he jokes. He stoops and recovers them and then unlocks and lets them in, kicking off his shoes at the door. He looks almost shy now, the night has been leading to this for both of them and suddenly he feels like a much younger version of himself before his first time being with a girl. He bites his lip waiting for Noelle to say or do something and awkwardly puts his hands in his pockets.
Noelle smiles when he fumbles his keys, but then they’re inside. She slips out of her shoes and stands watching him. He bites his lips and puts his hands in his pockets. That isn’t how she thought it would go. Her experience was that she should be undressed by now and she reaches for the hem of her dress, but stops. Her past experience was unsatisfying on the best day. She bites on her bottom lip and looks around, not knowing what to do with her hands, so she slips her sweater off of her shoulders and holds it, looking at it. “I … don’t … I don’t know what to do, Chris.” she confesses. “I mean … befowe’re not even on a couch or in the back of a van or …” she sighs and looks up into his eyes. “I want to make love with you but I don’t know how .. so … you have to … lead me.” she feels like a virgin .. which to her is a stupid way for the mother of a two year old to feel.
Chris runs his hand through his hair and starts to laugh “I’m sorry. I’m nervous...I didn’t think i would be….” He takes her sweater from her and puts it over the back of a kitchen chair. Then he sweetly takes her hand and leads her to his bedroom “How about a bed then? We’ll go slow….I love you Noelle...I want this to be amazing for you...I want to heal this part of things for you...I guess I feel pressure about making it perfect so it kinda stumped me.” He admits and then walks towards the bed and turns down the cover. If she moves with him he’ll lie down on his side and just pull her into his arms and hold her and breathe for a minute or two.
Noelle is alarmed at the laugh, until Chris explains himself. It makes her feel better to know he is nervous too and she follows him through the kitchen and living room area. She rubs at her bare arms and shoulders as they enter the bedroom. “I’ve never … done it in a bed…” she admits. “It’s already amazing for me … and I’m not even naked…” she chuckles. “Remember .. perfect is more than 6 minutes.” she moves with him to the bed and lays with him, just loving being in his arms. She looks in his face and then moves her head to kiss him, tentatively. A hand rests on his hip. She didn’t even know where to touch him … how to touch him.
Chris chuckles and relaxes more at her 6 minute joke. He kisses her back tentatively at first and then eagerly as he rolls so he’s pressing his body into hers more. He puts his hand on top of the one that’s on his hip and caresses it and then slides his hand from there to her hip, her back brushing past her ribcage and the edge of her breast and caressing her bare arms. His breath quickens and his muscles tighten a bit in his arms and shoulders.
Noelle kisses him more passionately as his hands wander. It pauses at her breast and, not even knowing she is doing it, adjusts her body under the hand so it is more fully on her breast.
Chris pauses as she moves so his hand is on her breast. He pulls back from kissing her and asks breathily “May I touch you?” His hand just resting there lightly, not active yet. His lower body pressing against her reveals how aroused he’s becoming by the hardness growing and pressing now lightly into her leg.
Noelle nods. “Yes, but if you’re going to keep asking me if you can do this or that … that 6 minutes will take forever.” she teases. She bites her lip. “How about this? If I don’t want it I will say no and you will stop?” it’s a question … she isn’t sure men can stop once they start, but … she doesn’t want him to stop. “We have some scars between us, Chris. I know I want you but … I only know how the other one was. That means .. I can give head and lay on my back with my legs open … “ she sighs and arches her hips into his hardness. “Make me feel good.” she bites her lip and tells him something not even her friend Daisy knows. “Be the first man to make me cum. I give you permission to do all of that.”
Chris looks lovingly at her and assures her “I will stop….if you ever say stop...the second you say the word. I promise.” He presses into her arching, feeling sad about her experience before him but determined to meet her request “But since I have your permission….I will also promise to make you cum…” Something in his holding back lets go and he starts caressing her breast fully through her dress, pushing his erection into her over and over as he kisses her mouth, ner face and her neck...down to the neckline of the dress as he moves his mouth to his hand and through the fabric take her nipple into his mouth. He moans a little into her chest, wanting he so badly.
Noelle mods at his promises to stop and to please her. As he caresses and then sucks through her dress, her nipple comes to life, as she has no bra between the dress and the woman in it. She moans a little bit as well, and takes his hand, blindly moving it to the hem of her dress. Her leg lifts and rests on his leg.
Chris keeps playing with her nipple but takes her cue as she moves his hand to the dress hem. He slides up the dress to her hip and caresses her hip and outer thigh, tracing the elastic of her panties to the front between her legs. He slides his hand between her legs slowly, giving her tip to protest if she wants to. If she doesn’t he’ll start to circle his finger through the fabric as soon as he can feel the outline of her clit.
Noelle feels the combination of his breast play and his other hand moving under her dress and between her thigh. She does not protest … her hips move forward to meet his finger. Already she is wet and wants to feel his finger against her. Pressing against it, she can also feel his excitement. There is a flash of her insecurity as she remembers she no longer shaves … anything .. but already it feels too good and she hopes when he realises she is a harry animal he won’t shove her out of the bed and tell her to shave or get out.
Chris feels the wetnes through her painties and gasps “Oh god Noelle…” as he can no longer resist touching her skin. He slides his hand down the front of her panties through her pubic hair and finds the clit for direct contact with his finger. He could care less if she shaves. He rubs at her clit for a good while before reaching deeper and gently sliding his finger deep inside her as he starts kissing her mouth again and gently thrusts it. He’s lightly beginning to sweat and his breath is shaky and panting.
Noelle reacts to the sound of her name from his lips by burying her face in his neck. Then she feels his finger on her skin .. parting her hands and finally touching her clit. “Chris….” she whispers, her voice not loud at all. She bucks against him, her juices making it easy for his finger to slide all over her. She gives another quiet cry when his finger enters her and she grasps his shoulders, literally riding his finger. “Chris …. Chris ….” it's too soon, she feels .. but she had decided against maturbating that day and he feels far too good. She grabs his shoulders and pulls him close, still bucking against him as she cums hard. Her face buried in his shoulders. “Chris .. Chris.. God .. Chris…” she murmurs, trembling. She wants him .. needs him … now.
Chris was savvy enough to realize what was happening for Noelle and he loved every second of it. He kept thrusting his finger into her until she rode it out. He had no idea how long she would go or if it would be multiple or a series of single servings. He pulled back to watch her face for cues, smiling at her as he both thrusted his hand and in his own incredible state of being turned on by her orgasm dry jumped into her leg.
Noelle was coming down from it, but the feeling of his finger is incredible. But she wants more. ALmost desperately she blindly reaches for his pants, trying to get them off. “Please … Chris … I need you … please.” she could care less that she is begging for him. If that makes her weak, then she can accept that. All she knows is that she needs tohs man inside of her. She rolls onto her back, struggling with his pants in her furver to have him.
Chris is torn. He wants to help her get the pants off but he knows his finger is her magic right now. Finally he gives a little sigh “I promise I’ll give it back….” and slides the finger out with a look of apology, rapidly undoing his pants for her and starting to get out of them. His cock is so hard it’s pushing out the waistband of his boxer briefs and he yanks those off too letting it out with an impressive yet slightly comedic little sproing. He tosses his pants and boxers aside and undoes his shirt at lightning speed tossing it too and grabbing for the condoms. He’s naked now and kneeling over her with his penis practically jumping up and down for attention as he fumbles to open the box.
Noelle watches this from a distant place. As he works on his pants and shirt, she pulls her dress over her head and drops it onto the floor. Then she hooks her panties with her thumbs and they get tossed … someplace. She turns her head to watch him prepare the condom, her breath is short gasps and her hips lifting of their own volition. She licks her lips as she watches him. Never has she been so turned on watching a man put on a condom try and open a box. But the delay gives her a little time to cool down … not so she is cold, but not molten hot.
Chris practically demolishes the box as he opens it and then retrieves a condom and rips one end of the wrapper and starts rolling it down and securing it in place. He eases back down on top of her and shifts his body angle to enter her, stopping to look at her with absolute love. It’s a pause for a no or stop if she decides it but if she ‘s still happy he starts to slide himself inside her until he’s all the way in and begins to kiss her and slowly starts to move in and out.
Noelle watches him put the condom on and honestly cannot remember it being so hot before. But she’s only seen one other do it two or three times and she shoves him out of her mind immediately. He hovers over her and she looks up at him with complete adoration in her eyes. She doesn't say no. Insead she arches her hips to meet him and moans quietly as he enters her. She returns his kisses with passion as they begin a slow dance. “Chris .. “ it is almost a hiss. Very quiet. Someone standing in his bedroom door would not hear her, but she is certainly close enough to Chris for him to feel it. She wraps her legs around him, arching up as if she could get him deeper inside of her.
Chris’s face starts to contort as he begins to feel good, really good. He grunts a few times and speeds up a little, not tons, just noticeably. When her legs go around him though it ramps things up for him exponentially. He cries out a bit “Oh...oh god…..” He seems to be fighting for control and slows again, going deep for her and gritting his teeth a little. He’s praying she’s close right now or still there from before because he can’t hold back much longer. He should have checked the clock...has it been 6 minutes?
Noelle can feel herself coming close to another orgasm and her entire body begins to tremble. Her hips rise and she can hear vaguely their bellies slapping together. “Chr…” she begins but cannot continue. She buries her face in his shoulder and begins to buck under him. Tightening her muscles around him she gives herself to him completely and her vision narrows. How could this orgasm be more powerful than the one she just had, she doesn’t know.
He watches her and feels pretty confident she’s getting there. As soon as she tightens on him he completely loses it and cums instantly, thrusting hard and deep into her and crying out over and over as they ride it out together until he collapses breathlessly on top of her and murmurs “Noelle…oh my god…..” He can’t speak anymore and just kisses the side of her face.
Noelle pants under him, her body covered in a fine sheen of sweat. “Yes … that … oh god Chris.” she kisses his neck. “That needs to happen again someday….” she chuckles as she pants. “You made me cum … you kept your promise.” in a way that is more stunning than anything. A man made her cum … THIS man made her cum. Playfully she tightens around him again.
Chris las to chuckle “I didn’t time it but I swear that was more than….holy shit stop that…” He playfully chides….and then he carefully holds the end of the condom so it doesn’t slip off and pulls out.
Noelle gives him a mock look of confusion. “Stop what?” she blinks and then glances at his clock. “It was more than 6 minutes …. But with you … you made Best Lover Status in less than 30 seconds.” she watches him pull out with a curious look. She's never seen it done properly. Just a condom ripped off and tossed aside.
Chris looks all pleased with himself “Why thank you...that builds back my confidence.” He sees her watching him and looks self consciously at his deflating penis “Not so exciting after I know…”. He grabs for his box of tissues and deals with the condom, tossing the whole little package into his bedside garbage.
Noelle shakes her head, looking at him flaccid. “No, I think it's beautiful.” she tells him and rolls on her side, propping her head up with her hand. “I think I need to get on the pill.” she announces. And then she demures. “I mean … if this is gonna happen on a regular basis …” she smiles at him and sighs .. a noise that can’t be confused with anything but bliss. “So .. this is what love feels like?”
Chris lays back down with her, pulling the covers up and over them both and snuggling into her “If you want to be on the pill….” He feels like it’s her own choice for her body. “I’d like it to be regular...besides we have all these condoms.” He sighs with her “Yes. It is . I love you...beyond reason.”
Noelle smiles and nods as she smuggles with him. “I do … I .. want to feel you without the condom, but that gives extra protection.” she bites her lip. “I won't trap you. I swear.” she isn’t thinking about having another baby, but also doesn’t think she would say no to having his … someday … it is the strangeness of their relationship feeling both brand new and yet years old. She snuggles deeper when he tells her he loves her beyond reason. “I love you too .. it feels like you’ve been with me … for years now.”
Chris looks thoughtful about what she’s suggesting and runs his fingers through her hair and frowns at her “Trap me? For the record I wouldn’t feel trapped by that….we’d just figure it out together. And yes like years and like yesterday. I can’t explain it…”
Noells swallows hard at his words. “Together.” she murmurs and she nods. “I can’t either just …” she shrugs and snuggles deeper under his covers with him. “Always and forever…”
*****WARNING*****This blog post contains graphic sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.
Chris Peterson looked at the clock on the stove again. It was the seventh time in 5 minutes. He was timing his day to work out just right. He had to run an errand before his date with Noelle. In a small town it was a complicated errand. He needed to buy condoms before his date. They had a plan, a very happy plan, and he just needed to do it. First he had to get to the Love Shack without running into seventeen people...then he had to get home...with his purchase. Maybe he should take a backpack? If he emerged from the shop with a backpack would everyone just think it was full? He checked his hair in the bathroom mirror and gave himself a talking to.
“You’re a grown up. Grown ups have sex. You’re being responsible. Everyone should just pat you on the back and shut the fuck up about it….”
He padded his pockets...wallet and keys..check...front pocket...phone..check. He hoped Noelle wasn’t watching out her window. She knew, but he didn’t need to drag her into it. He could do this. And he was so glad his brother Patrick had switched his shift so he wasn’t home to witness that as well as giving he and Noelle the apartment to themselves overnight later.
Chris descended the stairs. How hard could this be? He made it as far as the laundromat before he ran into someone.
Buni Chuku was coming down the hill from the Center of town and heading home. She had a box under her arm and was smiling. Then she spots ….. “Which one you be?” she demands. “I cain’t tell witout ya uniforms?”
Chris smiled warmly at Buni because how can anyone not. He pointed to the little mole beside his right eyebrow “I’m Chris.” He explained and then pointed to an empty spot under his left eye “Pat’s got one on the other side down here…..I don’t expect people to remember.” He smiles again. “How are you Buni?”
Buni snorts. “Dat too small!” she proclaims. “But I doin good. Back in bidness. Ya think eberbody forget we ain’t had no real coffee fo years, dey come in demanding mo like it a drug.” she snorts. “I don do drugs.” she assures him. “Coffee jest legal iz all.” she chuckles. “Where you headin on dis lovely ebenin?” she asks. Good ol small town chit-chatter.
Chris froze. It was a litmus test. Had his little pep talk taken? He didn’t know Buni THAT well after all. “Well I like your coffee Buni...and I’m just running some errands. But it was nice to bump into you.” It dawns on him that she might actually see where he ends up when they part and he bites his lip.
Buni nods. “Don rush none.” she tells him. “It a beautiful day so ya take ya time … slow and easy.” she nods. “But imma run, cause dit blackberry flavorin ain’t gonna put issef in a drink!” and she's off jaywalking and waving over her shoulder. “Take care Missa Chris!”
Chris exhales with his entire being and waves back “See ya Buni.” He walks a little slow and waits until she’s gone into the Perkatory and then quickly ducks into the Love Shack. One point Chris. Zero points town lurkers.
Seamus Reinhardt stood at the counter, considering his options. “OK, Megan … seriously … The banana flavor tastes like latex and the cheery like cough medicine.” he blows out a breath. “I can’t give a review like that, so I won’t give one at all. But the blackberry is INCREDIBLE, I tell you!” he is nodding his head, happily.
Megan is taking in everything Seamus says “I know right…..I’m going to double our stock on that and put the other two on sale...I mean people can just use them as non edible…..Oh hey…” She waves “I’m sorry I can’t see the moles from here….Are you Chris or Pat?”
Chris sighs and walks all the way in, pointing beside his eyebrow “Hi Megan. Hi Seamus.” Chris one. Lurkers 2. He casually tries to look like he’s just browsing for a moment as Megan turns back to Seamus.
“I feel so rude when I can’t tell.” She whispers “Anyhow blackberry...listen I’ll knock off 15 percent since you braved them all Shay. You are so good with the reviews….”
Seamus watches Chris and leans into Megan a bit. “They’re probably used to it. Hell, I cut Owen’s hair .. long story … and I’ve been stopped twice today by people congratulating me on impending parenthood. As if!” he scoffs and cant’s his head “That’s fair. I’ll take two then.” he turns back to Chris. “Tonight’s the night!” he announces to the store at large … which is only he, Megan and Chris.
Chris was gingerly deciding between two fairly jumbo packages of standard condoms on the other side of a display but could see over the top of it and hear most of what they were saying. He smirked a bit at the Reinhardt brothers' stuff and then almost dropped his boxes as Shay called him out on his purpose. Litmus test again. Well he was in the shop, and clearly the force was strong with Seamus. And he suspected he just knew. Peeking over he just said “Yep.”
Megan put two bottles down in front of Seamus and then looked delighted at Chris “Special night? Need something special?”
Chris retreated “Oh...I uh….I’m good here...these are good….”
Seamus has turned around and is looking at Chris full on now. Looking at the boxes, he straightens and shakes his head. “No no …” he protests, moving around Chris and into the aisle he was just in. “Those are at best average.” He scans the shelves. “OK … those say ‘ribbed for her pleasure’ but trust me .. she doesn’t need ribs .. she needs you.” and he plucks out 2 fairly jumbo packages of an entirely different brand than Chris had chosen. “These are what you want.” he brings them over to Chris. “Fit well, good quality materials and they won’t break just putting them on. You can’t go wrong with them.”
Chris looks a little overwhelmed but nonetheless appreciatively at Seamus. “Oh….ok….thanks man.” He puts the other two back and grabs two of the ones recommended. He doesn’t comment on what he said about the ribbed condoms but the words ‘she just needs you’ go right through him. Where did this sage young sexpert come from anyway? He was never this smooth at that age. Ah the Reinhardts. He makes his way towards the counter but waits and Seamus still has things waiting for him there. With a look of dawning he reads the back of one of the boxes carefully.
Megan gushes at Seamus “Fuuuuckk...when can I hire you already?” She starts ringing in his lubes. “Seriously Shay….”
Seamus smiles and noda tt Chris. “No problem man. She’s a friend of mine … and not in that way, either.” He turns to Megan and hands over his card. “May 22, 2021 2:34 a.m.” he tells her. “Unless you’d like to get parental consent, in which case it would be …” he seems to consider. “May 22, 2021 2:34 a.m.” and then he strokes his chin. “But … I think my NOT being the son who gave them a grandkid before they were ready just might get me that consent. You got a form or something? I’ll work on em .. hard to tell which to approach ….”
Megan finishes up his transaction, bags his items and hands them over “Just give me a resume for posterity….and I’ll tell Kitty. She’ll love it.” She looks towards Chris reading the box “Did you have a question?”
Chris listens in and then looks up “Yeah are these animal free? We’re vegan and vegetarian….so….”
Megan takes the box “Let me look them up. I think so…” She taps at her computer screen.
Seamus takes his bag and heads for the door, then stops. “No animal skin, no animal testing .. nothing like that. 100% vegan approved.” he arches his brows at Chris. “I wouldn't do that to her, man.” and he stands as if waiting.
Megan points at Seamus “See this is why he needs to work here...he already knows.” She rings him up quickly since it seems he and Shay may be walking together.
Chris pays and thanks Megan and then heads to the door “Thanks Shay. You’re very helpful.”
Seamus waves his goodbye to Megan and takes his bag, holding the door open for Chris. The street is having a lull, so he turns to the older man. “Listen. I just wanted to say I’m happy for you and Noelle. She’s really special and it’s about time she had someone for her, ya know?” he holds up his hands. “And no, she’s never been one of my conquests. She’s a friend. Period.” If Chris doesn't reply or continue the discussion, Shay will head towards home.
Chris looks pleasantly surprised. He didn’t really know Seamus that well aside from seeing him as a force to be reckoned with against any hockey team he ever coached. It turned out, he was a cool guy. “I wasn’t assuming….and yeah it is about time. I’m happy too. You have a great night.”
Seamus snorts. “Then you’d be the first.” he scoffs. He had his own issues with having a sluts reputation around town. He heads in the direction of home, waving a goodbye over his shoulder.
Chris waved and then made a beeline for home. He dropped off his own box of condoms to his bedside table. He did a last straighten up check of the apartment. He had already tidied and cleaned but he gave it one last check. Chris and Pat weren’t super messy and they didn’t have tons of stuff to clutter it up so that helped. Satisfied, he gave his teeth an extra freshen up brush, freshed his deodorant and finger styled his hair one last time. He blew a breath out at himself in the mirror and said to his reflection “You got this..” Then he grabbed the other box of condoms and headed across the street. In no time he was in front of Noelle’s door. He knocked and waited.
Noelle had spent the day resting after taking Blaze to school. She had hyped the day up for him and her son was super excited that he would get to spend the night at his half sisters apartment. Daisy would pick them up from school and then make a special treat of taking them to the Burger/Fish shack. Noelle had agreed to that because the Burger/Fish shack was out of the line of sight of her apartment, so Blaze wouldn’t see her or Chris and become distracted. The only thing Noelle had to drill into Daisy’s head was to remember that Blaze should only have the french fries which she knew were fried in vegetable oil. So, after trying for a nap and some relaxation, she eventually gave up and decided to dress for her date. Limits on clothes frustrated her a bit, but in the end, she decided on her second best dress. A sundress that was really better suited for the summer, but it was her second best dress. Under it she had only a simple pair of bikini panties and over it she wore a sweater. Looking in the mirror, she almost stripped the clothes off for something else. Anything else. “I look like a grandmother.” she chided herself. She wondered if she could quickly run to The SHops and grab a ‘ne’ second hand dress, but then a knock sounded. That was Chris. On time, no less .. maybe a minute or two early. Too late to change anything. So a blue sundress and matching sweater had ot be it. She reached for the door knob a couple of times, as if she feared it was hot, but finally opened the door and stared. He looked incredible and she decided she looked plain and simple and her insecurities jumped on her back. She worked her mouth a couple of times before she came out with .. “Hi … you came.” Real smooth, Noelle.
Chris grinned stupidly at her and then felt himself blush “Yep…..” He took in all of her and then said “You look beautiful.” He was holding something behind his back but stepped towards her leaning down “Can I kiss you?” The question came out in a whisper.
Noelle blushed. “I don’t but thank you.” she demures, still hating her simple used wardrobe. Then he asks for a kiss and she steps into ballet flats, then out the door closing it behind her. “Yes….” she pauses. “I .. you… you don't have to ask, you know. I want to kiss you. I really do…” and she steps closer to him, looking up at him .. into his face, getting lost in his blue eyes.
Chris murmured “Don’t lock it yet.” and then impulsively but gently pressed her against the door kissing her with an intensity he’d been holding onto all day. In the hand that had been held behind his back he pressed something into the door that sounded like a cardboard box.
Noelle got into the kiss and truly enjoyed it. But she also heard her door creak open a little and her curiosity got the better of her. “What’s that?” he’d placed a box on the small square dresser she had by the door for her keys and mail .. in front of which were shoes.
Chris pulled back and looked a bit sheepish “It probably would have been more romantic to just buy you flowers...but we’re both pretty practical so this is your half of my preparation shopping.” He teased. It was of course a box of condoms. “Maybe put them out of sight when Blaze gets back. Hate to have them all blown up like balloons…” he joked.
Noelle smiled at him as if he’d just given her diamonds, not flowers. I love them.” she announced. “Um .. yea .. Blaze .. hold on.” and slipping out of her flats and leaving them in between his feet, she scampers into the apartment, here Chris may hear a little rattling, and then more scampering and she is back. As she slips back into her shoes, she giggles. “I put them in MY toybox.” she tells him and then looks up at him. She swallows. “Thanks and .. I love them. Love you.” and finally she closes the door and locks it behind her.
Chris grins and then looks confused at the word toybox. His mind starts buzzing but he’s afraid if the answer to the question is what he thinks it might be they’ll never go out and he knows she wants and needs a night out. He clears his throat and takes her hand “I love you more…” He says sweetly “Shall we?” And he starts moving towards the stairs.
Noelle smiles and almost giggles. “I guess we’ll have to clear that up somehow.” it would be the nicest fight she ever had with a male, she’s convinced. Holding his hand, she nods. “Yes … let’s go.” she prepares to go out and be seen with him. Maybe he'd even keep holding her hand for all to see.
Chris had no plans to let go of her hand and settled into an easy walking rhythm with her where their hands swung comfortably together. As they rounded the corner he saw the love shop ahead and had to laugh “So I uh bought condoms with Seamus Reinhardt today…..didn’t expect that…not planned….” He figured Noelle would find that funny.
Noelle does laugh. “I’m told Seamus knows about stuff like that.” she tells him, walking along happily. “And more, apparently. Daisy calls him a man-ho, and I guess it’s sort of true, but Seamus doesn’t care about that, it seems. He says he likes it, so fuck what people think.” she sounds amazed. “But he said it sucks I have the label because it's not true.” she shrugs and looks up at him, as they walk. “I don’t care so much for me. And now I’m with you … I just don’t want it to go bad for you, Chris…”
Chris nods along and then sort of cringes and laughs. His face turns more serious as she talks about what people think and labels. He thinks about Mrs. Norris from the other day and stops them in place, never wanting Noelle to feel anything less than happy. “Noelle it was bad for me when I didn’t think you’d ever look at me the way you do right now. This…” He leans in and kisses her gently “Is the best I’ve ever felt in my whole life...right here….with you.” A middle aged woman passed right by them on the street and he didn’t break form. He was making it pretty clear that he didn’t care who was watching.
Noelle smiles and the words damn near melt her heart. And kissing her in front of that woman .. she didn’t even notice if her expression changed. They pass Earthcakes and Noelle turns them between that building and the building the radio station is in. They can cut across Central Park and behind the cop shop to Central street and up to Sprouts. “Well I can’t seem to stop looking at you like this.” she admits, thrilled that he feels that way. And she is looking a thim with such intense love that she doesn’t notice the door open until she is nearly knocked down.
Vincent D’Antoni checks his step as he heads out of the door, nearly running Noelle down. He focuses on her. “Oh Jesus Noelle. I’m sorry.” he looks and sees her hand securely in another, and follows the arm to the shoulder and. “Oh, hi Officer Peterson.” he doesn't seem surprised to see them together. He only smiles. “Hey. Noelle. I wanted to thank you for that recipe. I love all kinds of lasagna but never tried spinach before. But I’m going to need your help to get Zabats to put it on the menu … not now .. when you come in next.” he smiles at them both and closes his door, locking it behind himself.
Chris wiggles his eyebrows at Noelle and then stops short when Vincent flies into her, almost putting an arm between them protectively as an instinct but relaxing when it’s not a harmful thing. Chris looks awkward and then flattered “Oh hey it’s Chris. I’m not working...thanks for knowing which one I am.” he jokes. “Mmm spinach lasagna…” He smiles looking between them. “You work here now Vincent?”
Vincent chuckles. “OK .. Chris.” he acquiesced. “And when I was a kid, I learned to be observant.” he says, casually. “If I didn’t notice things sometimes it meant I bounced off the walls.” he looks at his building. “No, sir .. I mean Chris. Well if you mean here…” he motions to the door he just came out of. “I live here .. I work at Zabats now as a junior chef. Only until the ferry starts up again, then I am hoping Noelle here will take over for me when I go work at 13 while I go to school.” he looks at her. “Christophoros can be a little old fashioned, but I’m working on him. Now I gotta go, or I’m gonna be late. You two take care.” he gets ready to go, pointing himself in the direction of Zabats across the park.
Chris nods, taking in all of it “Well take care then.” He watches him go in his direction “So you are clearly much more than just a delivery person. Tell me about the cooking thing Noelle?”
Noelle watches Vincent go and begins walking again. “Well … the delivery thing is kind of new .. after we got reconnected. I also wait tables at Zabats. He gave me a chance when I was still pregnant with Blaze. I want to be a chef, but he’s kinda old world. But Vincent and I are working on him. He’s put some vegan friendly things on the menu. Before his idea of vegan friendly was keeping the feta cheese out of the salad.” she shrugs. “Maybe someday i’ll go to cooking school. I could make more money for me and Blaze then.” She is planning ahead.
Chris squeezes her hand and looks impressed “Money’s one part of it. I think it’s important to do something you love for work...and hopefully you can topple that patriarchy in the kitchen and stick it to a few carnivores…” He says with a grin. “You should definitely apply to cooking school.” The restaurant is ahead and Chris sighs happily “Speaking of vegan dishes….”
Noelle sort of shrugs. “Well now we're back in the world, money is a lot of it.” she sighs. “I love it .. and it's funny that so many professional chefs are men but women cook at home.” she rolls her eyes. “And I will apply … in a couple of years. Once Blaze is in school full time. I can go to school when he does and then do the delivery thing, so he’s not alone ALL the time. Daisy will watch him if she can. Or something. I’ll figure it out then. But when he’s older .. unless I can find a way to learn cooking online somehow.” She sees Sprouts and does a little skip. Her first date was going along great so far.
Chris looks pensive for a moment and then joins her joy, opening the door for her and letting her go first if she’s so inclined “I already know what I want…” He looks through and smiles at Rain if she’s looking his way.
Rain March looks up from a form to see two of her favorite customers come in. “Chris! Noelle!” She comes around the counter to greet them, but things have changed. She stops before she gets too close and beams at them. “How is the baby, Noelle?” No more hugging and she long ago got to know both of their auras. Looking between them she arches her brows. “Are you two … just .. here at the same time .. or … here .. together?” she looks almost eager for it to be the latter.”
Noelle smiles, noting this new ‘normal’ and just shyly says “Blaze is fine ….” she doesn't answer about them being together, just shyly looks at Chris.
Chris adores Rain and her food and just lifts up Noelle’s hand and kisses it “Together.” He proclaims and then looks at Noelle with absolute devotion “First date though.” It sounds funny to say since they’ve known each other so long and the feelings are so deep already. He looks back at Rain, understanding her intuition about auras.
Rain’s smile would light the town. She steps back and looks at them, then claps her hands. Interlocking her fingers, she looks up at the ceiling and shakes her hands towards the sky. “Oh gods, you are making up for SO much tonight!” she exclaims and then looks at them both. “Well, that is the best news I’ve heard since … oh ... before we returned to this world. And it gets you 25 percent off whatever you want.” she all but skips behind the counter. Her clearly homemade clothes match the wrap around her head. “So what can I get you?”
Noelle watches what looks almost like a prayer, even though everyone knows Rain is not Christian. But the words warm her ..and the discount even more. “Well, I’d like The Harvest Salad and a large power boost, please.” she nods at Chris. “And I’m paying for him, too.” she proclaims. They hadn’t exactly discussed it, but she wanted to pay for the dinner. Especially now he’d paid for the condoms.
Chris laughs at Rain “Glad we can help. Thanks for the discount offer...and actually…..my workmates are treating so put your cards away Noelle...and I’d rather pay full since it’s a gift and I know business has been a struggle with the pandemic.” He awkwardly explains to them both “the police station apparently took bets on how long it would take us to get together….and then they donated it to our date…..be flattered or just feel sorry for me that some of those officers have such little faith in my charm.” he jokes. “I’ll have the black bean taco with avocado please...and the Autumn Zest”
Rain arches her brows as she listens. “Alright I will charge you full …. This time. But you’ll get that discount.” she sighs. “LIFE has been difficult with this pandemic. But I didn’t open Sprouts to make money. I made it to make people healthy. And now that we’re back in the world.” she sighs and chuckles. “They go right back to meat. Ah well. They did good for a few years, anyway.” she outright laughs at the bet. “That is so sweet of them. See … he gods know what they’re doing.” and she nods at Chris’s order. “I’ll have that out in a few minutes.” and she heads into the back.
Noelle looks like she might protest but when he explains why he wants to pay .. and its not him paying. “Well … okay ..” she agrees. “But NEXT time I pay .. and then you pay and we go back and forth. Deal?” she blushes a bit at the idea of the bet but when Rain speaks she just nods. “That’s people for you. But just think. Blaze has never had meat, so … next generation?” she offers. When Rain goes back she looks at Chris and hugs his arm. “This is great!”
Chris concedes to Rain with a nod and then to Noelle’s request about payment arrangements “Deal.” He didn’t have very expensive tastes and it sounded like they both cooked so he suspected it would not be a problem either way. “I admire the way you raise Blaze.” he says honestly. He leans into her hugging his arm and kisses the top of her head “I agree. It’s perfect.”
Noelle smiles at the deal .. it means more dates. She looks up at him. “You do? Thank you.” she replies when he mentions how she raises Blaze. “I’m not a political vegan, you know.” she suddenly tells him. “I mean I care about animals, but I became vegan because my mother said it was the only way to stay skinny. So she put us on the diet.” she rolls her eyes. “Then when she left I just … didn’t stop it. I haven't had meat since I was eight.” she smiles about their perfect date. “Have you always been vegetarian?”
Chris listens and the frowns a bit about her mother putting her on a diet as a child “I don’t think children should be on diets or shamed about their bodies...no one should…..but I know it happens. My parents have kind of ebbed and flowed with vegetarianism. They try to eat organic, they garden so it ends up being pretty vegetarian but I think they also like meat, and my Dad and my brother especially. So my mom tries to do only ethical meat…..my sister Avery always hated meat and I went full vegetarian in high school finally. It just felt right. I try not to be peachy….but you know…” he laughs.
Noelle listens to him, then tugs him into a corner table where they can see and be seen. “My mother …. Well you saw her. Pretty but my father … she wasn’t pretty enough. I got caught in it. But you’re doing good. What about Patrick?” she asks. “Is it Patrick or Pat?”
Chris happily sits at the corner table and takes her hand again on top of the table. “I’m sorry about your father….Noelle you’re so beautiful I can barely think….inside and out.” He smirks “Pat prefers Patrick but I push my luck. We’re opposites like that because I prefer Chris to Christopher. Fun fact...my middle name is Patrick and his is Christopher. I don’t think they knew they were having twins until way late in the game…..”
Noelle shrugs about her father. “He’s .. awful. But he’s not in my life, or Blaze’s.” and then she blushes crimson. “Chris….” she breathes, just loving the compliments, even if only half believing them. She smiles about the names. “That's interesting. I guess that's why you don’t have those rhyming twin names.” she giggles. “I have to admit I am glad I don’t have twins. I could never have handled it alone.”
Rain comes out with their food, setting each dish in front of the right person, followed by their drinks and of course silverware and the cloth napkins. “Enjoy you two.”
When she breathes his name out he kisses her hand again. Noelle made him just continually melt. “No twins is hell...my mom tells us all the time….” He laughs “Until we got old enough to amuse one another...and then she said we lived in our own world...which is true.” He looks up at Rain with gratitude “Thank you so much.” He only lets go of Noelle’s hand now that they have food in front of them.
Noelle smiles. “Thank you.” she watches Rain depart and takes her hand back once Chris lets it go. She partly wants to learn to eat with one hand, but she can’t and she knows it. Instead she starts in on her meal. She really enjoys the food here and it shows.
Chris takes a bite of his taco and puts a hand on his heart as he chews. After he swallows he says “Holy shit have you tried these?” He holds it out offering a bite if she’s inclined “My favourite tacos…”
Noelle chews and swallows and nods. “They’re fantastic.” but she leans forward to take the proffered bite anyway. “Want some of mine? I make the walnut burger at home. Rain gave me the recipe so I could make them for Blaze.” she sighs in bliss. “You know Rain’s was the least changed menu in the fog?” because Rain needed no meat.
Chris nods and then leans in for a bite of hers too “Mmmmm…” he almost groans and then chews and swallows “That’s delicious. And I believe it.” He dives back into his own taco again looking happily fed.
Noelle enjoys her meal, looking over her plate at Chris. Then she realizes that she is more than halfway done before Chris is. She covers her mouth and swallows. “I’m eating too fast. Like a mom … in case I have to get up or move or something ..” she sighs a bit. “I’m sorry.”
Chris shrugs and then does the generic European mama impression “Eata eata…” He fans his hand at her food. It’s vaguely Italian even though there’s none of that in his background at all and he’s just being silly “Hey as long as your’re enjoying it. I guess the mom habits are pretty hard wired.” He muses.
Noelle giggles and nods. “I AM enjoying it. The food and the company.” she looks over the table at him. “I guess we should both be happy I didn’t put you in the seat and cut any food for you?” she smiles and glances out of the window. People are going by, but none seem to be too interested in them. She didn’t know what she expected. Pitchforks and torches? Her eyes fall on the white house on the corner. Mrs. Norrris’s house, but she looks back at Chris. “Thank you for this. Again.”
Chris laughs at the idea of her mothering him “Well maybe when my dinner’s not tacos…” He takes a bite of his last one and smiles at her while he chews. He follows her gaze to Mrs. Norris’s house and does an involuntary quiet shudder. He was working hard to put the discovery of Jack Rose being back on the island out of his head and he wasn’t going to let it overshadow their date. He would tell Noelle of course. But tomorrow. Let her have tonight unspoiled. He pushed it back into the dark hole it festered in as soon as Noelle talked and thanked him ”No...thank YOU.”
Noelle tries not to eat so fast. She knows there is no rush. “OK, then no cutting your taco. I haven’t wiped your mouth, either so … still doing good over here.” she laughs. Biting her lip she then asks. “So … what’s your birthday? I want to know .. everything … I know I can’t learn it all tonight but … you know…”
Chris is about halfway through his last taco but stops to take a long sip of his drink and jokingly offers her his napkin and then sets it back down “Uh ... November 13th...when’s yours? Everything huh…..I love animals...especially dogs. I’m told I sometimes snore but I think it’s mostly when I have a cold.” He holds up a foot “Size 12…” He jokes just spouting off random facts.
Noelle works on the last bites of her salad. “Um … yea ..” she places a hand to her chest. “December 24th. Dad had a thing I guess. My full name is Noelle Holly Snow….” she shrugs. “Oh, I Love dogs. I thought about getting one for Blaze but … then I’d basically have another kid. Maybe someday. And Blaze snores, too .. when he’s sick. Nothing obnoxious .. I think it’s cute.” she lifts her foot. “Six…”
Chris looks suddenly delighted “Noelle Holly Snow and you were born on Christmas eve?! OK fair warning...my parents are going to either want to just adopt you or demand that I instantly marry you. They love Christmas. We’re a family of atheists to be clear but they love the movies and the baking and they decorate about 3 trees and the whole house is like ridiculousness…..oh and the music…” He laughs “ Don’t tell them your full name unless you’re really committing…” he jokes. He pushes his empty plate away a bit and sips at the last half of his drink now.
Noelle stares at him across the table for a long time. He might think he’s overstepped, but she takes a shuddering breath and tries to be casual. “Well, considering I’ve been in love with you for a few years now .... how could I object if that’s what they want .. and you…” she knows they won’t run over to the Town Hall … but someday … who knows .. she might have the whole package. Husband, children, love. “I like decorating for Blaze.” she bites her lip and backtracks a little. “Well … you know if I marry you, my name would be Noelle Holly Peterson … so that might ruin it for everyone involved.”
Chris looks a bit worried at the pause. He had said the M word and talked about meeting parents. Shit. Then he looks at her like he’s melting again and just sighs “I don’t think anything in that idea would ruin anything for me…..but I’ve never assumed a woman would take my surname so that part’s optional.” He realizes he’s now getting possibly a bit too into it for a first date. He loves the idea but baby steps. And he has another idea. “Noelle….I want you...and us to really have a proper date. I don’t want you to think I just want to take you home.” He reaches and squeezes her hand reassuringly “I mean don’t get me wrong I want that too….a lot….but what about popping over to the Blue Door for a drink and a maybe a few dances? Not that you have to drink if you don’t…..” He waits for her reply.
Noelle nods. “We’ll worry about it when the time comes….” she says, because she can see it. As he goes on, she cants her head and looks at him, curiously. “Well, I was thinking about that…. And … I don’t think this can be a proper date, no matter what we do.” She squeezes his hand back. “I mean .. we’ve been in love for years and just … I was stupid. It’s my fault. But first dates are getting to know you time, right?. And we’re doing that, but … I think we took the steps in the wrong order … not that I mind.” she smiles at him, softly. “And … the Blue Door sounds nice, but I have to warn you … I don’t drink .. not really .. and … I don’t know how to dance … well … Blaze thinks I do, but I don’t think you standing on my feet while I move around will work out too well…” she giggles and then looks directly into his eyes. “As far as taking me home with you …. I really want that, too …”
Chris bites his lip and looks down at her feet and then his “Size 12 on size 6 might be a little painful for you...and I’m a bit bigger than Blaze to boot. I’m not an amazing dancer but it’s good fun. Didn’t you do school dances? You were in that group of girls with Daisy?...I would have thought you went to the dances with your friends...at least early on…” He knew once she was pregnant or even the whole Joey thing might kill all the fun of her youth. “Why don’t we try it? If you hate it we can leave it. I’m just trying to give you some variety...and maybe take the pressure off feeling like I better be really good in bed.” He half jokes.
Noelle winces, just imagining his feet on hers. “Yea .. lets .. not.” she shrugs. “In Calgary, I did. Here, it was mostly the Winter Festival before the Earthquake and … well my father never let me. And then Blaze came along and so nothing really until last Winter Festival. He loves the decorations and he’s bigger now so we went for a bit and it was so much fun… Anyway … nope … But yea … lets try it.” she agrees. And she bites her lip. “I’ve only been with one other person so … if you can make it last more than five minutes you’ll be the best lover I ever had.” she winks. “I’m easily impressed in advance.”
Chris listens and nods along and then does an exaggerated wipe of his brow in relief “6 minutes...here I come…” He jokes and then waves at Rain with a cheeky little “Cheque please.”
Rain catches the movement and comes immediately, using her hand held hoziewhatsit to ring up the order. Being at the table, she is closer to them than before. She places the reader back in her pocket and reaches out to squeeze both of their shoulders. “You two have a fantastic night.” she orders and heads back to her counter.
Noelle giggles at his estimation of the time and smiles at rain. “You too, Rain.” and when she’s gone, she takes a big gulp of her drink. “Now .. dancing … and if we don’t wind up in the clinic … home for our 6 minutes of wild, raucous circus sex?” she smirks, revealing a sense of humor Chris probably hadn’t seen … no one has really seen. This is Noelle as Noelle knows her, and even she is learning.
Chris taps to pay and then grins up at Rain “You too. Thanks. It was all delicious as always.” He looks back at Noelle as Rain walks away. He snickers at her joke “You’re getting funnier by the minute Noelle. I love this side of you...all sides but this one’s fun.” He stands up and holds out a hand to her “Shall we cut a rug before we have to unpack the trapeze?”
Noelle giggles. “I love this side too .. I don’t get to show it off much.” she reaches for his hand and stands. “Yes, please.” she replies, eagerly. “And I hope you have a ceiling fan .. just .. saying is all….” and she is ready to head for the Blue Door.
Chris is still laughing as they walk down the sidewalks hand in hand. As they get to the door or the blue door the bouncer waits for their ID and Chris pays the cover for both of them and holds his up casually. The bouncer reacts to his name “Officer Peterson…..”
Chris holds up a hand “Just here to have a drink and a dance….I’m not searching the place….” He jokes and then looks at Noelle “Occupational hazard…”
Noelle watches the exchange and giggles a bit. “Makes sense…” she looks around the place, feeling a little nervous, but she feels safer with Chris around. The bar is all the way across the building, with the dance floor between them and it. At the opposite wall is the DJ’s setup and she can see the DJ … her neighbor Quentin Tyrell doing his job and dancing in place as he looks at albums. “So .. drink first, or dancing?” she asks, then feels she has to nearly yell the question again, the music is so loud.
Chris grins at Quentin as he’s his neighbour too and running club buddy. He leans down to hear Noelle and speaks into her ear so she can hear him “I usually get a drink first but will you still kiss me if I have beer breath? Because I could do something fruity…” He doesn’t want to do anything to mess up her enjoyment of the night or his chances to enjoy it fully with her.
Noelle hears the question and turns her head closer to his ear. “Doesn’t matter. Neither will make me NOT want to kiss you.” and she heads over to the bar, also seeing the Blue Door’s … specialty menu .. drinks and snacks with names that are very suggestive.
Chris walks up to the bar looking relieved. He loved beer. He loved Noelle more of course but he was happy his beer wouldn’t interfere with their kissing. “Hey Remy I’ll have a Golden IPA when you get a sec….and Noelle’s is on me too…” He gestures at the bartender “This is Remy...this is Noelle.”
Remy is a small man who looks in his 20s but seems to have an early balding situation going on. He’s got sort of blonde to strawberry blond hair and a bit of a pinched face. He waves at Noelle “Hello….what’ll ya have?” He’s already pouring the IPA but listening for hers.
Noelle gets a bit of that ‘deer in the headlights’ look about her. “I ….” she looks at the glass the beer is being poured into. “I ….” She looks at the special menu and bites her lip. “Um … something … “ she blows out a breath. “Water, I think.” she finally orders. “I .. don't want to wind up drunk.” There are several reasons for that decision.
Chris nods, respecting her choice. She did say she didn’t really drink after all.
Remy hands Chris his pint and then takes a glass, looking thoughtfully at Noelle “We could make it interesting. Sparkling water, bit of lemon...or lime?” He tilts the glass back and forth being an understanding and accommodating barkeep.
Chris sips at his beer lightly, waiting to pay after Noelle has chosen.
Noelle’s face brightens. “Yes .. please. Lime?” she asks it in a shy ay, as if lime might be too much of a bother.
Remy pours a tap water and adds lime and ice and passes it over. When Chris offers his card to pay he says “Just the IPA..” and gives a little eyebrow wiggle and a grin to him like he’s happy his regular patron friend has a date “Have fun kids…” He jokes and finishes the transaction.
Chris chuckles a bit at Remy and then turns and gestures at the tables for them to sit with their drinks for a minute before they brave the dance floor. He points toa corner table, remembering she liked the corner one at sprouts with a little look of question.
Noelle nods at the idea of a corner table. They sit and she watches the dancers, sipping her drink. But after a minute, she leans into Chris, affectionately, unaware that she’s even doing it.
Chris snuggles right back into her and puts his arm around her, kissing her cheek. It feels new and old at the same time. He chugs back his IPa until it’s about halfway down and then gives Noelle a squeeze “Ok, should we do this?” He head juts to the dance floor and then as if summoning liquid courage downs the rest of his beer.
Noelle finds she likes the water and makes quick work of it. She takes in a deep breath. “Yes …. Let’s do it.” and she nods, as if they are going into a war zone.
Chris mocks up a little series of stretches to be funny and then reaches for Noelle’s hand to pull her with him to the dance floor. If she follows he will pull them right into the middle and gently let go of her hand as he starts to dance close enough to her that they’re paired but they can both move. Chris is actually not a bad dancer, not the best but he can hold his own and seems to enjoy it, hips groove, hands alternate side to side with the upper body and he loosens his neck letting his head join the flow.
Noelle follows and for a second only watches Chris move. She tries to match his movements, and isn’t terrible, but its clear .. she can’t dance.
Chris doesn’t care how Noelle dances. He’s just happy to be out with her. He catches a looks from Quentin and starts to laugh, making Noelle aware of Quentin's reaction to them.
Quentin’s mouth is open in a huge muppet like grin as he points between them. Then he gets a devilish look in his eye and comes on the mic “Alright my beautiful friends, we’re going to slow things right down and get our sway on. Let’s see here…..mmmm and oldie but a goodie...a little R&B …..this one goes out to my neighbours out there….Noelle and Chris…” He puts on Always and Forever by a band called Heatwave.
Chris laughs and puts a hand on his heart looking at Quentin and mouths thank you as the song starts up. He doesn’t know it, but he doesn’t care. He just reaches for Noelle, pulling her into his arms and starting to sway side to side, slowly turning.
Noelle sees Quentin’s look and giggles, but then Quentin opens his mouth, puts on a song and dedicates it to THEM? She is almost numb when Chris takes her in his arms, but she sways .. slow dancing is so much easier to her. As the song goes on, she listens and looks up at Chris, tears glistening in her eyes. “Yes .. please…” she almost whispers. Chris may have to read her lips, but the way she moves closer to him may also tell her that the lyrics are speaking to her.
Chris can’t quite read her lips but he sees the look on her face and the lyrics sing right into his heart. As she moves closer he wraps his arms tighter and then while they still move, dancing, he leans down and kisses ,for all to see, with a gentle passion.
Noelle enjoys the kiss, still moving with him. This evening has been magical for her and it shows in her face. How could she have treated Chris the way she had … feeling for him how she did .. pushing him away because she was afraid? A tear falls as they kiss and she can taste its salt when he reaches the joined lips. She is his … he can have her .. right here on the dance floor if that’s what he wants.
Chris tastes her tear and kisses her a bit harder for a second and then kisses up her cheek to the source of it before shifting his head beside hers and leaning into her ear so she can hear him “Noelle I love you so much.” His eyes are watering too but he’s blinking as he buries his face in her hair, just hugging her tightly now as they continue to sway and turn.
Noelle hears his words and moves her lips so he can hear her as the song ends. “I love you too.” she pauses. “Take me home with you, Chris. Please?”
Chris steps back from her, his pupils dilated and a huge grin on his face as he nods at her, tugging her by the hand off the dance floor. He gives Quentin a little wave and cracks up as Quentin is giving them a double thumbs up as they go. He sees Remy watching from behind the bar with his nod of approval. God people were so up in each other’s business in this town but ti came from a good place. Chris will lead them out into the colling evening air, walking hand in hand in the setting sun if she’s going along with it all.
Noelle goes out with him, not really seeing the looks of Chris’s friends as they do. But outside she stops and looks west towards the ferry landing. There is no Ferry to block the view as they approach Water Street. “God, that is so beautiful…” she breathes at the sunset.
Chris stops with her and then steps behind her and wraps his arms around her waist, leaning on her head a bit and watching it with her “Yep….just like everything about this night.” He holds her tightly and basks in the glow.
Noelle nods her agreement and then begins to move towards Chris’s apartment building. Here’s is dark, she can see, but can’t see Daisy’s place from the streets, as it's in the back of the building. She hopes her son is having the time of his little life … she knows she is.
Chris gets to the door with Noelle and fumbles his keys nervously and drops them “Totally meant to do that…” he jokes. He stoops and recovers them and then unlocks and lets them in, kicking off his shoes at the door. He looks almost shy now, the night has been leading to this for both of them and suddenly he feels like a much younger version of himself before his first time being with a girl. He bites his lip waiting for Noelle to say or do something and awkwardly puts his hands in his pockets.
Noelle smiles when he fumbles his keys, but then they’re inside. She slips out of her shoes and stands watching him. He bites his lips and puts his hands in his pockets. That isn’t how she thought it would go. Her experience was that she should be undressed by now and she reaches for the hem of her dress, but stops. Her past experience was unsatisfying on the best day. She bites on her bottom lip and looks around, not knowing what to do with her hands, so she slips her sweater off of her shoulders and holds it, looking at it. “I … don’t … I don’t know what to do, Chris.” she confesses. “I mean … befowe’re not even on a couch or in the back of a van or …” she sighs and looks up into his eyes. “I want to make love with you but I don’t know how .. so … you have to … lead me.” she feels like a virgin .. which to her is a stupid way for the mother of a two year old to feel.
Chris runs his hand through his hair and starts to laugh “I’m sorry. I’m nervous...I didn’t think i would be….” He takes her sweater from her and puts it over the back of a kitchen chair. Then he sweetly takes her hand and leads her to his bedroom “How about a bed then? We’ll go slow….I love you Noelle...I want this to be amazing for you...I want to heal this part of things for you...I guess I feel pressure about making it perfect so it kinda stumped me.” He admits and then walks towards the bed and turns down the cover. If she moves with him he’ll lie down on his side and just pull her into his arms and hold her and breathe for a minute or two.
Noelle is alarmed at the laugh, until Chris explains himself. It makes her feel better to know he is nervous too and she follows him through the kitchen and living room area. She rubs at her bare arms and shoulders as they enter the bedroom. “I’ve never … done it in a bed…” she admits. “It’s already amazing for me … and I’m not even naked…” she chuckles. “Remember .. perfect is more than 6 minutes.” she moves with him to the bed and lays with him, just loving being in his arms. She looks in his face and then moves her head to kiss him, tentatively. A hand rests on his hip. She didn’t even know where to touch him … how to touch him.
Chris chuckles and relaxes more at her 6 minute joke. He kisses her back tentatively at first and then eagerly as he rolls so he’s pressing his body into hers more. He puts his hand on top of the one that’s on his hip and caresses it and then slides his hand from there to her hip, her back brushing past her ribcage and the edge of her breast and caressing her bare arms. His breath quickens and his muscles tighten a bit in his arms and shoulders.
Noelle kisses him more passionately as his hands wander. It pauses at her breast and, not even knowing she is doing it, adjusts her body under the hand so it is more fully on her breast.
Chris pauses as she moves so his hand is on her breast. He pulls back from kissing her and asks breathily “May I touch you?” His hand just resting there lightly, not active yet. His lower body pressing against her reveals how aroused he’s becoming by the hardness growing and pressing now lightly into her leg.
Noelle nods. “Yes, but if you’re going to keep asking me if you can do this or that … that 6 minutes will take forever.” she teases. She bites her lip. “How about this? If I don’t want it I will say no and you will stop?” it’s a question … she isn’t sure men can stop once they start, but … she doesn’t want him to stop. “We have some scars between us, Chris. I know I want you but … I only know how the other one was. That means .. I can give head and lay on my back with my legs open … “ she sighs and arches her hips into his hardness. “Make me feel good.” she bites her lip and tells him something not even her friend Daisy knows. “Be the first man to make me cum. I give you permission to do all of that.”
Chris looks lovingly at her and assures her “I will stop….if you ever say stop...the second you say the word. I promise.” He presses into her arching, feeling sad about her experience before him but determined to meet her request “But since I have your permission….I will also promise to make you cum…” Something in his holding back lets go and he starts caressing her breast fully through her dress, pushing his erection into her over and over as he kisses her mouth, ner face and her neck...down to the neckline of the dress as he moves his mouth to his hand and through the fabric take her nipple into his mouth. He moans a little into her chest, wanting he so badly.
Noelle mods at his promises to stop and to please her. As he caresses and then sucks through her dress, her nipple comes to life, as she has no bra between the dress and the woman in it. She moans a little bit as well, and takes his hand, blindly moving it to the hem of her dress. Her leg lifts and rests on his leg.
Chris keeps playing with her nipple but takes her cue as she moves his hand to the dress hem. He slides up the dress to her hip and caresses her hip and outer thigh, tracing the elastic of her panties to the front between her legs. He slides his hand between her legs slowly, giving her tip to protest if she wants to. If she doesn’t he’ll start to circle his finger through the fabric as soon as he can feel the outline of her clit.
Noelle feels the combination of his breast play and his other hand moving under her dress and between her thigh. She does not protest … her hips move forward to meet his finger. Already she is wet and wants to feel his finger against her. Pressing against it, she can also feel his excitement. There is a flash of her insecurity as she remembers she no longer shaves … anything .. but already it feels too good and she hopes when he realises she is a harry animal he won’t shove her out of the bed and tell her to shave or get out.
Chris feels the wetnes through her painties and gasps “Oh god Noelle…” as he can no longer resist touching her skin. He slides his hand down the front of her panties through her pubic hair and finds the clit for direct contact with his finger. He could care less if she shaves. He rubs at her clit for a good while before reaching deeper and gently sliding his finger deep inside her as he starts kissing her mouth again and gently thrusts it. He’s lightly beginning to sweat and his breath is shaky and panting.
Noelle reacts to the sound of her name from his lips by burying her face in his neck. Then she feels his finger on her skin .. parting her hands and finally touching her clit. “Chris….” she whispers, her voice not loud at all. She bucks against him, her juices making it easy for his finger to slide all over her. She gives another quiet cry when his finger enters her and she grasps his shoulders, literally riding his finger. “Chris …. Chris ….” it's too soon, she feels .. but she had decided against maturbating that day and he feels far too good. She grabs his shoulders and pulls him close, still bucking against him as she cums hard. Her face buried in his shoulders. “Chris .. Chris.. God .. Chris…” she murmurs, trembling. She wants him .. needs him … now.
Chris was savvy enough to realize what was happening for Noelle and he loved every second of it. He kept thrusting his finger into her until she rode it out. He had no idea how long she would go or if it would be multiple or a series of single servings. He pulled back to watch her face for cues, smiling at her as he both thrusted his hand and in his own incredible state of being turned on by her orgasm dry jumped into her leg.
Noelle was coming down from it, but the feeling of his finger is incredible. But she wants more. ALmost desperately she blindly reaches for his pants, trying to get them off. “Please … Chris … I need you … please.” she could care less that she is begging for him. If that makes her weak, then she can accept that. All she knows is that she needs tohs man inside of her. She rolls onto her back, struggling with his pants in her furver to have him.
Chris is torn. He wants to help her get the pants off but he knows his finger is her magic right now. Finally he gives a little sigh “I promise I’ll give it back….” and slides the finger out with a look of apology, rapidly undoing his pants for her and starting to get out of them. His cock is so hard it’s pushing out the waistband of his boxer briefs and he yanks those off too letting it out with an impressive yet slightly comedic little sproing. He tosses his pants and boxers aside and undoes his shirt at lightning speed tossing it too and grabbing for the condoms. He’s naked now and kneeling over her with his penis practically jumping up and down for attention as he fumbles to open the box.
Noelle watches this from a distant place. As he works on his pants and shirt, she pulls her dress over her head and drops it onto the floor. Then she hooks her panties with her thumbs and they get tossed … someplace. She turns her head to watch him prepare the condom, her breath is short gasps and her hips lifting of their own volition. She licks her lips as she watches him. Never has she been so turned on watching a man put on a condom try and open a box. But the delay gives her a little time to cool down … not so she is cold, but not molten hot.
Chris practically demolishes the box as he opens it and then retrieves a condom and rips one end of the wrapper and starts rolling it down and securing it in place. He eases back down on top of her and shifts his body angle to enter her, stopping to look at her with absolute love. It’s a pause for a no or stop if she decides it but if she ‘s still happy he starts to slide himself inside her until he’s all the way in and begins to kiss her and slowly starts to move in and out.
Noelle watches him put the condom on and honestly cannot remember it being so hot before. But she’s only seen one other do it two or three times and she shoves him out of her mind immediately. He hovers over her and she looks up at him with complete adoration in her eyes. She doesn't say no. Insead she arches her hips to meet him and moans quietly as he enters her. She returns his kisses with passion as they begin a slow dance. “Chris .. “ it is almost a hiss. Very quiet. Someone standing in his bedroom door would not hear her, but she is certainly close enough to Chris for him to feel it. She wraps her legs around him, arching up as if she could get him deeper inside of her.
Chris’s face starts to contort as he begins to feel good, really good. He grunts a few times and speeds up a little, not tons, just noticeably. When her legs go around him though it ramps things up for him exponentially. He cries out a bit “Oh...oh god…..” He seems to be fighting for control and slows again, going deep for her and gritting his teeth a little. He’s praying she’s close right now or still there from before because he can’t hold back much longer. He should have checked the clock...has it been 6 minutes?
Noelle can feel herself coming close to another orgasm and her entire body begins to tremble. Her hips rise and she can hear vaguely their bellies slapping together. “Chr…” she begins but cannot continue. She buries her face in his shoulder and begins to buck under him. Tightening her muscles around him she gives herself to him completely and her vision narrows. How could this orgasm be more powerful than the one she just had, she doesn’t know.
He watches her and feels pretty confident she’s getting there. As soon as she tightens on him he completely loses it and cums instantly, thrusting hard and deep into her and crying out over and over as they ride it out together until he collapses breathlessly on top of her and murmurs “Noelle…oh my god…..” He can’t speak anymore and just kisses the side of her face.
Noelle pants under him, her body covered in a fine sheen of sweat. “Yes … that … oh god Chris.” she kisses his neck. “That needs to happen again someday….” she chuckles as she pants. “You made me cum … you kept your promise.” in a way that is more stunning than anything. A man made her cum … THIS man made her cum. Playfully she tightens around him again.
Chris las to chuckle “I didn’t time it but I swear that was more than….holy shit stop that…” He playfully chides….and then he carefully holds the end of the condom so it doesn’t slip off and pulls out.
Noelle gives him a mock look of confusion. “Stop what?” she blinks and then glances at his clock. “It was more than 6 minutes …. But with you … you made Best Lover Status in less than 30 seconds.” she watches him pull out with a curious look. She's never seen it done properly. Just a condom ripped off and tossed aside.
Chris looks all pleased with himself “Why thank you...that builds back my confidence.” He sees her watching him and looks self consciously at his deflating penis “Not so exciting after I know…”. He grabs for his box of tissues and deals with the condom, tossing the whole little package into his bedside garbage.
Noelle shakes her head, looking at him flaccid. “No, I think it's beautiful.” she tells him and rolls on her side, propping her head up with her hand. “I think I need to get on the pill.” she announces. And then she demures. “I mean … if this is gonna happen on a regular basis …” she smiles at him and sighs .. a noise that can’t be confused with anything but bliss. “So .. this is what love feels like?”
Chris lays back down with her, pulling the covers up and over them both and snuggling into her “If you want to be on the pill….” He feels like it’s her own choice for her body. “I’d like it to be regular...besides we have all these condoms.” He sighs with her “Yes. It is . I love you...beyond reason.”
Noelle smiles and nods as she smuggles with him. “I do … I .. want to feel you without the condom, but that gives extra protection.” she bites her lip. “I won't trap you. I swear.” she isn’t thinking about having another baby, but also doesn’t think she would say no to having his … someday … it is the strangeness of their relationship feeling both brand new and yet years old. She snuggles deeper when he tells her he loves her beyond reason. “I love you too .. it feels like you’ve been with me … for years now.”
Chris looks thoughtful about what she’s suggesting and runs his fingers through her hair and frowns at her “Trap me? For the record I wouldn’t feel trapped by that….we’d just figure it out together. And yes like years and like yesterday. I can’t explain it…”
Noells swallows hard at his words. “Together.” she murmurs and she nods. “I can’t either just …” she shrugs and snuggles deeper under his covers with him. “Always and forever…”
No comments:
Post a Comment